+ Dooctor.net - Sore Breasts

Sore Breasts / Women's Health / Medical articles + Dooctor.net - Home medical advisor !

You are in: Main Page / Medical articles / Women's Health / Sore Breasts

Do you love your breasts? You apply creams, gels and moisturizers to ensure your breasts are in perfect condition. There are times when they're tender or sore e.g. pregnancy or before menstruation and times when you are really proud of them. The problems begin when breasts are sore, swollen, you notice spotting or a lump. What are the possible diseases of breasts?





Healthy and properly cared for breasts are a real attribute of woman's body, it's a delicate and sensitive organ. Breasts are also a source of complex, especially among young girls, that is why many women turn to plastic surgeons to have their breasts enlarged. Nevertheless, all the aesthetic problems become unimportant when there is threat to life.

Physiology and pathology of breasts has become so serious that a special field of medicine was created - mastology.

Cancer of the mammary gland is still the most serious problem that exists. There are also other disease that may affect breasts, not that serious but still demanding appropriate treatment. These include:
- malformations
- changes in the breasts during the menstruation cycle
- swelling and inflammations of the mammary gland during pregnancy and after giving birth

The structure of breast

They are made of two parts, glandular and fatty tissues. The glandular part contains from 15 to 20 flaps of connective tissue which look similar to the bunch of grapes ended with lacteous vesicle. They are stems for ducts all of which lead to the nipples. Mammary gland is supplied with blood and nerves.

Malformations of the nipple are very rare, in some young girls additional nipples are visible, some have falling or very small breasts. There are also cases of atypical nipples such as hollowed, flat or split, so parents should pay attention to all abnormalities that may occur during their children's development. In case of any problems or doubts a visit to the pediatrician is advisable.
Menstruation cycle causes several changes to the breast structure. Some changes may be worrisome, usually several days before the period woman feels anxious, breasts become heavy and swollen, nipples are sore. These symptoms disappear quickly after the period, if not, a woman should consult the doctor. During the menstruation some thickenings may appear, they are usually mild and don't pose risk of harm to person's health.

A common disease which occurs during puerperium is glandular mastitis because milk produced by mammaries is perfect for bacteria development. There are two sources the infection:
- from blood
- from the nipple

While breast-feeding the baby makes tiny damages to the nipple which help bacteria get into the mammary gland. That causes inflammation which spreads to the whole breast and creates abscess. Appropriate preparation of breasts and proper feeding of the baby can protect you from the glandular mastitis. As usual, prevention is the most important - during the third trimester a mother-to-be should prepare her breasts, wash them every day with a rough sponge, massage nipples with a harsh towel. Afterwards, she should apply Vaseline on the nipples and wear loose and delicate bra that would hold breasts.
The symptoms of the glandular mastitis include fever, chills and shivers, headache.

Treatment

At the beginning the treatment involves taking non-medical measures such as emptying breasts when a child doesn't suck strongly, feeding more often or applying cabbage leaves on breasts. If it's necessary doctors prescribe antifebrile drugs. If such treatment is ineffective, doctors prescribe antibiotics, proper drugs don't harm newborn babies so it can still be breast fed. Appropriate course of action prevents from having complications such as abscess or development into the chronic disease.






Added by: mary not connected with health care system
Added on: 2008-07-18 11:33:17 , Updated: 2008-07-18 11:35:44
Bibliography:

Terms and conditions | Contact | Dooctor.net - your doctor online , Copyright 2008 , Dooctor.net - Health and Medicine